New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS): The Indian Railways generated Rs.51,188.72 crore of revenue earnings from commodity-wise freight traffic during April 1-Oct 30 period this year as compared to Rs.47,045.09 crore during the corresponding period last year -- registering an increase of 8.81 percent, the government said Monday.

Railways carried 593.25 million tonnes of commodity-wise freight traffic during April-October 2013 as compared to 565.27 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period last year -- an increase of 4.95 percent.

Out of the total earnings of Rs.7,730.94 crore from commodity-wise freight traffic during the month of October 2013, Rs.3,174.53 crore came from transportation of 37.78 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs.783.13 crore from carriage of 10.14 million tonnes of iron ore for exports and steel plants, said an official statement here.

For other domestic users, Rs.736.06 crore came from transportation of 8.76 million tonnes of cement, Rs.623.84 crore from 4.16 million tonnes of foodgrains, Rs.488.96 crore from 4.48 million tonnes of fertilizers, and Rs.469.85 crore from 3.43 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricant (POL).

Besides, Rs.491.23 crore came from carriage of 3.17 million tonnes of pig iron and finished steel from steel plants and other points, Rs.140.54 crore from 1.37 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants except iron ore, Rs.357.51 crore from 3.49 million tonnes by container service and Rs.465.29 crore from 5.47 million tonnes of other goods, the statement said.